Automatic sprinkler



G. F. NEWTON AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER April 5, 1927. 1,623,887

4 Filed March 16, 1925 25 1 15 7 16 17 Fi 2 t 7 Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

PATENT orrica.

GEORGE FREDERICK NEWTON, OF PROVIDENCE, BHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO UNITEDSTATES FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY, OF PBOVIDEHCE, RHODE ISLAND, A COB-PORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

' Aeronautic alumnae.

Application filed larch 18, 1825. Serial No. 15,959.

My invention has reference to an improves ment in fire extinguishingdevicesrand more particularly to an improvement in automatic sprinklers,as used in automatic sprinkler systems. g

The object of my invention is to improve the construction and operationof automatic sprinklers and my invention pertains more particularly tothat form of automatic sprinklers nown as lever sprinklers.

Further objects of. my invention are to reduce the cost of constructionand improve the operation of automatic lever sprinklers therebyproducing an automatic sprinkler that is more positively looked undernormal,

non-fire conditions and more quickly released under fire conditions,than has heretofore been done.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of anautomatic lever sprinkler, said sprinkler having details ofconstruction, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed.

Figure l is a side view of my improved automatic lever sprinkler,showing my improved adjustable deflector, in section.

Figure 2 is an edge view of Figure 1 and showing a face view of myimproved fusible link.

Figure 3 is a central transverse sectional view through the cover of thevalve head.

Figure 4 is a central transverse sectional view through the body of thevalve head and showing the cover and springs in their normal positions,in broken lines.

Figure 5 is a side view of the cone shaped spiral sprin of the valvehead.

Figure 6 1s a central transverse sectional vievg through the springwasher of the valve hea Figure 7 is a face view of the fusible linkmember of the sprinkler.

Figure 8 is a central sectional view of the fusible link member, takenon line 8, 8, of

Figure 7 Figure 9 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 8, of amodified form of fusible link member.

Figure 10 is a central detail sectional view of the central position ofFigure 8, and

Figure'll'is a faceview of the semi-circular retaining members, as usedin the modified form of fusible links, shown in Figure 9.

Figu s 4, 7, 8, 9 and 11, swellto more clearly show my invention.

larged and Figure 10, still further enlarged,

In the drawing, 1 indicates the body of an automatic sprinkler having ascrew- -threaded tubular shank 2, 3 a yoke with a valve seat 4 and arms5, 5, curving to a hub 6. A screw 7 is screw-threaded through the hub 6and has the usual recessed inner end 8.

9 indicates my improved valve head which' shown in full and broken linesin Figure 4, I

and held in place, in their contracted positions,by the coverll, whenthe valve head is on the valve seat 4, in the sprinkler.

15 indicates my improved adjustable defiector which consists of a bodymember'16 in the form of a flat disk having a screwthreaded periphery 17and a central screwthreaded hole 18, whereby the body member 16 issecured to the sprinkler by screwing it onto the screw 7, against thehub 6. A rim 19 having a series of bent fingers 20, 20, isscrew-threaded onto the screw-threaded periphery 17, of the body member16, thereby completing the deflector, as shown in Figure 1. By turningthe rim 19 on the body member 16, the rim, which is the water spreadingpart of the deflector, is adjusted towards or away from the streamofwater, thereby compensating for different water pressures. A

Intermediate the hub 6 and the valve head 9 are levers 21 and 22, eachlever having a hook shaped outer end 23. These levers have the usualinner end construction'to engage with the screw 7, the valve head 9 andoff center with each other, as shown in Figure 1.

24 indicates my improved fusible link member of the sprinkler. Thisfusible link member 24 is circular in form and consists of an outer disk25 having a raised inclined annular ed e 26, a hook hole 27, for thehook end 23 o the lever 21, a hook slot 28, for the hook end 23 of thelever 22, a central hole 29 in which is a small tube 30, which acts as adisk separating element. At each side of and on a central line with thecentral hole 29 are depressions 31 and 32. In the I depression 31 aretwo small rolls 33, 33, and in the depression 32 are two small ofi'center toggle joint members 34, 34, and extending around the depressionsis a concentric raised annular rib 35. Soldered centrally to the back ofthe disk is a sunken washer 36 the central hole in the washer 36coinciding with the hole through the tube 30. An inner disk 37 isconstructed to have an annular groove 38 for the annular rib and a lsoldered washer 36, otherwise the construction is the same as theouterdisk 25. This inner disk 37 fits into the outer disk 25 and thesmall central tube 30, is smaller than the central holes 29, 29, in thedisks. All of the 2 parts of the fusible link are secured in place andthe entire inner surfaces of the two disks are secured together bysolder 39, as

shown in Figure 8.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 9, 25 the outer disk 25 has anannular groove 40, corresponding to the annular groove 38 in the innerdisk 37, thereby forming a round annular bore 41, in which are solderedtwo semi-circular wire retaining members 42, 42,

30 shown in Figure 11.

, By this construction all of the parts of the fusible link member arestrongly secured together, thereby producing a fusible link member thatwill stand an extremely high 5 water pressure and that is also extremelysensitive under fire conditions. The raised inclined annular edges 26,the annular rib 35, the rolls 33, 33, the central tube 30, and thetoggle joint members 34, 34, under fire 40 melting conditions, willquickly force the disks apart, thereby eliminating slow creeping of thedisks. The spring action of the valve head 9 operates to compensate forexpansion and contraction of the frame of the 4 sprinkler and alsoassists in a quick operation of the sprinkler. In the modified form offusible link, shown in Figure 9. the wire retaining members 42, 42, alsoassist in forcing the disks apart when the solder melts. \Vhen underfire conditions the solder 39 melts, the pressure of the water on thevalve liead 9 and the levers 21 and 22 will cause T the parts of thefusible link to fall apart and the parts of the valve head and thelevers to separate and fall out of the sprinkler and the water will passunobstructed to the deflector 15 from which it is distributed onto thefire.

Inpractice I find that the central tube 30, lyingras it does crosswiseof the two disks,

agtsj) firmly hold the disks against creeping of the disks and it alsoacts to quickly force the disks apart under fire melting conditions. andthat this sprinkler will stand '55 an extremely strong water pressurewithout leaking and at the same time is extremely sensitive in operationunder fire conditions.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new 1. In an automaticsprinkler, a fusible link member in the form of an outer and an innerdisk. each disk having a central hole,. a tube soldered to the disks inthe central holes. the inner disk having a circular groove and the outerdisk having a circular rib sol dered in the circular groove, each diskhaving coinciding inclined annular peripheries soldered together, andmeans for securing the fusible link to the levers of an automaticsprinkler.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, a fusible link member consisting of outerand inner disks soldered together, each disk having a central hole, atube soldered to the disks in the central holes, a sunken washersoldered centrally to each disk, means forming a cavity between thedisks, toggle joint members soldered to the disks in the cavity, anannular groove in one disk, an annular-rib on the other disk andsoldered in the annular groove, each disk having inclined coincidingannular peripheries soldered together and means for securing the fusiblelink member in its operative position in an automatic sprinkler.

3. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve head in the form of a roundshallowbox, saidvalve head having a body member with a central stud, a coverhaving a central tubular stud which goes over the central stud in thebody member and forms a guide for the cover to hold the cover in place,a spring washer in the body member, a cone shaped spiral spring in thebody member and means for holding the valve head in its operativeposition on the valve seat of an automatic sprinkler, for the purpose asdescribed.

4. In an automatic sprinkler, a valve head in the form of a roundshallow box, said valve head having a body member with a central stud. acover having a central tubular stud which fits over the central stud inthe body member, a spring member in the body member, a sprial spring inthe body member, said spiral spring being cone shaped when not underspring tension, said central stud in the body member, guiding centrallythe spiral spring and the spring member into the body member and alsoguiding centrally, the cover onto the body member.

5. A fusible link member for automatic sprinklers, said link memberconsistin of two plates soldered together, the lates aving centralcoinciding cylindrical holes, on an axial line with the plates, atubular plate separating member in'said holes and contacting with bothplates, said tubular plate separating member extending crosswise of theplates and on a line with the axis of the plates and'members on theplates over the ends of the tubular plate separating member.

6. In an automatic sprinkler, a dish shaped deflector formed of innerand outer parts, said inner part being disk shaped and form ing thebottom of the deflector and having a screw-threaded periphery and saidouter .part being in the form of an inclined rim having a series of bentperipheral fingers andscrew-threads Ill screw-threaded engagement withthe screw-threaded periphery of In testimony wvhereof, I have signed myname to this specification.

GEORGE FREDERICK NEWTON.

